Venetian blind



1959 H. F. MASON ET AL 2,86

VENETIAN BLIND 'Filed March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Ha/ F. Mason Albert E. Long INVENTORfi.

Jan. 13, 1959 H. F. MASON ET AL 2,868,284

VENETIAN BLIND 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1956 Ha/ F. Mason Albert E. Long Fig.5

INVENTORS, @053;

1959 H. F. MASON ET AL 8,

VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hal F. Mason Albert E. Long INVENTORS,

United States Patent 2,868,284 VENETIAN BLIND Hal F. Mason, Bell-aire, and Albert E. Long, Shadyside, Ohio Application March 27, 1956, Serial No. 574,130

4 Claims. 01. 160-177) This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds and particularly to blinds of the type which are easily taken apart for cleaning and then restored to the usable condition.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple Venetian blind which is constructed in such a Way that it is very easy to disassemble and assemble so that the blind may be cleaned or for any other purpose desired by the user. Moreover, it is a further object to provide such a blind with easily removable tapes so that they may be replaced for any purpose such as because they have worn, faded or simply because the color is not pleasing any longer to the owner. By having the blind constructed in the manner described herein, the slats may be removed and replaced with a minimum of ditficulty.

In the construction of Venetian blinds a large variety of expedients have been resorted to in attempting to make the blinds more satisfactory in both construction and use. In this regard, it is a further object of the invention to provide an improved cap at each end of the bottom rail of the blind, this cap functioning dually, the first function being to veryeasily support the free ends of the tape at one side of the blind and support one of the rigging cords of the blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for holding captive the rigging cords in the ends of each of the slats. In carrying out the invention there is a flat cap at each end of each slat, this cap having an arch in it which is arranged in registry with an end notch in the slat on which the cap is mounted, there being frictional means in the form of indents in the Walls of the cap and the slat in order to releasably attach the cap to its slat.

An additional object of the invention is to make it possible to very easily and quickly remove the tapes by having them held captive on their saddles by a spring clip which fits transversely across the saddle and which is engaged at its ends in recesses on the sides of the saddle. In addition, the tapes may have short links attached to the saddles and oval or similar shaped rings connecting the short tapes to the ladder tapes, the purpose being that the tapes having the slats may be detached without removing the part of the tapes that are mounted on the saddle, even though these ladder parts are also easily removable.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a Venetian blind which is constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the bottom rail of the blind and one end cap which has been separatedtherefrom;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the head box and a part of the tapes and slats carried by them;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the means for attaching an intermediate tape to the bottom rail of the Venetian blind, when an intermediate tape is required or desired, as in a long blind;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of one of the flat end caps of a slat, and its slat;

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 99 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated one suggested manner of practicing the invention. It is to be understood that the Venetian blind ,10 is shown by way of example only of the principles of the invention and that various modifications may be made herein, as will become apparent subsequently. The preferred materials of construction are metal and plastic, although others may be resorted to and will actually be necessary in some instances. The blind 10 consists of a head box 12, the latter being of standard rectangular form in cross-section and having a bottom wall 14, a front wall 16, a back wall 18 and being of any desired finish. Head box 12 is mounted in head box supports 20 and 22, the latter being preferably of the type which attach to a supporting structure, for example the window frame, and have a pivoted door or closure within which to slide the head box. In this way, the head box is easily detached and mounted.

A pair of upstanding brackets 24 and 26 are carried by the bottom wall 14 of the head box and have openings 28 and 30 in which the tilt bar 32 is mounted for rotation. This tilt bar is non-circular (Fig. 4) in cross-section so as to be easily drivingly connected to the two tape saddles 34 and 36 that are mounted thereon. One end of the tilt bar is rotated by a driving mechanism 38 carried by the head box and having a cord 40 entrained therearound and drivingly connected therewith. Rigging cord 42 is passed over idler pulleys 44 and 46 in the head box and drops downwardly through openings 48 and 50 in the bottom wall of the head box and in the head box supports 20 and 22. An intermediate part of the rigging cord 42 is passed through a locking device 52 of standard construction and has a loop 54 which extends downwardly inside the slats 56 of the Venetian blind for manual operation in order to raise the slats of the blind and in order to release the rigging cord 42 in order to allow the slats to be gravity lowered.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, there are two tapes 58 and 60, one being on the left and one being on the right side of the Venetian blind. Tape 58 consists of a front and back strip 62 and 64, respectively, the front and back strips having cross tapes 66 thereby constituting the slat ladder for the left side of the slats 56. A short length of tape 68 is mounted on saddle 34 and has hems 70 and 72 in its ends, thehems constituting loops. There are loops 74 and 76 at the upper ends of the strips 62 and 64 so that oblong rings 78 and 80, respectively, may be passed through confronting loops in order to separably attach the ladder portion of the tape tothe short part 68 thereof. The oblong rings 78 and 80 have a slot in each so that the attachment and removal of these loops is facilitated.

There are means releasably attaching the shortlength of tape 68 to the saddle 34. The preferred means con sist of a spring clip 82 (Fig. which has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional appearance. The two flat sides or legs 84 and 85are connected to the cross member 86, the latter having teeth 88, serrations or the like on the undersurface which are adapted to grip into the tape 68 when the spring clip is applied on saddle 34. In order to attach the clip onto the saddle 34, there are two re cesses 90 and 91 formed on opposite sides of saddle 34. The recess 90 has the projection 94 on the end of leg 84 removably disposed therein, while recess 91 has the indent 96 mounted therein, the latter being interme diate the ends of leg 85. A finger-grip 97 is at the outer extremity of leg 85 inorder to facilitate the lifting of the leg 85 from saddle 34 so as to separate indent 96 from recess 91 and lift the spring clip from saddle 34. It is to be understood that an optional arrangement of the tape Would be to have the strips 62 and 64 formed as one piece and extended over the top of saddle 34. In that event, the spring clip would attach to the ladder directly rather than to the short length 68 of tape. The upper end of tape 60 is fashioned in a manner identical to the upper end of tape 58 and therefore a discussion of the specific structure is unnecessary.

Any practical number of slats 56 are used in the Venetian blind. However, each slat has a similar end cap on it. For this construction, attention is invited to Figures 8-10. Here, a typical slat 56 is provided with a typical end cap 100. The end cap 100 is fiat and is generally U-shaped in planform. It is made of an upper wall 102 and a lower wall 104, these walls being extremely flat and parallel to each other. Short side walls 166 and 108 connect the top and bottom walls in order to form a pocket 110 in which the end of slat 56 is fitted. A returned flange 112 is located at the outer edge of the top wall 102 and forms a closure for the pocket along the outer edge. An enlarged opening 114 is formed in the flat end cap 100 lending the cap its generally U-shaped configuration. A similar opening 116 is in the end of slat 56 and is adapted to be brought into registry with opening 114 when the flat end cap 100 is fitted onto the end of slat 56. The two openings 116 and 114 being in registry constitute a passage 118 for one of the rigging cords 42, the latter being held captive in passage 118 when the cap 100 is on slat 56. Friction means releasably retain-' ing the flat cap 100 onto the slat 56 are provided. These friction means consist of indents 120 and 122, respectively, being formed on the cap 100 and the parallel ends 124 and 126 alongside of opening 116. These indents are matching with each other so that when the cap is in place on slat 56, it will not easily be separated from the cap by accident or inadvertance. The short side walls 106 and 108 have indents 126 and 128 which register with indents 130 along the edges of the slat 56 to constitute an additional portion of the friction means for holding the end cap 104) in place on slat 56.

The Venetian blind has a bottom rail 136 that is preferably, but not exclusively, of hollow formation. It may be of any cross-sectional configuration such as rectangular, oblong, oval and others. In each case it is preferred that the rail have an upper wall 137, a bottom wall 138 and side walls 139 and 140. An outwardly opening passageway 142 is in the top wall 137 and opens through the end thereof. A tapered notch 144 in end cap 146 is adapted to be brought into registry with the passageway 142 in order to hold captive one end of one of the rigging cords 42. This is done by forming a knot at the end of the cord and sliding it under the top wall 137 of bottom rail 136 with the .cord extending through passageway 142. Then the end cap which is of box forma tion is nested over the end of bottom rail 136 with the notch 144 fitting over passageway 142. This holds the knot contained within the end cap and the end of the bottom rail 136.

The end cap has two side walls 149 and 150, an end wall 151 connected to each, a bottom wall 153 and the top Wall 155 in which the notch 144 is formed. The end cap may be made of plastic, metal or other suitable material, this holding true for the other parts in the Venetian blind. Friction means, as matching indents 158 in wall 149 and 160 in wall 140 are used for releasably retaining the end cap on rail 136.

Structurally simple means for holding the ends of the tapes 58 and 60 onto the bottom rail are operatively connected with the end caps. A hem such as hem 166 on strip 64, is formed at the lower end of each of the strips of each tape. Means for attaching-to each hem are pro vided on the side walls, for example, side walls 149 and 150 of each cap. Hem 166 has its ends fitted through a passage 168 formed between the confronting ends of a pair of parallel arms 170 and 172. These arms are generally parallel to the plane of the end cap 146 and spaced vertically therefrom. The hem 166 is slipped over one arm and then over the other arm by being passed through the passageway 168. This attaches the bottom rail 136 to the tapes.

When a Venetian blind of large width is used, there will be one or more center tapes, such as tape (Fig' 6). To accommodate such a tape there is a generally U-shaped snap-on clip 182 whose legs 183 and 184 are each fashioned with arms 187 and 188 which are identical in construction and function to the pair of arms 170 and 172. They hold one end of tape 180 by fitting into the hem 190 thereof in the manner described previously. Matching indents 192 and 194 are formed in the leg 184 and the side 140 of the rail 136. A similar construction is on the opposite side of the rail 136 for the leg 183.

In use, the Venetian blind is assembled as described previously. After installation it may be very easily re moved by separating the head box from their supports. Alternatively or in addition, all of the slats may be re moved by separating the tapes in either way that has been described. Moreover, one or more of the slats 56 are easily separable by slipping the end caps 100 therefrom and merely pulling the slat out. To replace this slat it is just as easy.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a Venetian blind that has a head box, a tilt bar mounted in said head box, a pair of tapes, means releasably attaching said tapes to said tilt bar, said means including for each tape a tape saddle drivingly connected to said tilt bar, said saddle having sides and an outer surface, a tape resting thereon, a spring clip having a fiat intermediate cross member extending transversely across said tape, laterally opening recesses in opposite sides of said saddle, means at the ends of said spring clip cross member disposed in said recesses to hold said spring clip fastened to said saddle, and a plurality of teeth on one surface of said clip gripping said tape.

2. The combination of a Venetian blind tilt bar, tape and means to attach the tape to the tilt bar, said means comprising a tape saddle secured to said tilt bar, a generally U-shaped spring clip attached to said saddle and having sides which grip against the surfaces of two sides of said saddle together with a flat cross member which fits flush against the outer surface of the tape on the saddle, said saddle sides each having a recess, and means on said clip sides engaging said recesses to releasably fasten said clip to said saddle.

3. The combination of a Venetian blind tilt bar, tape and means to attach the tape to the tilt bar, said means comprising a tape saddle secured to said tilt bar and having sides with planar flat surfaces, a generally U-shaped spring clip attached to said saddle and having sides Which grip flush against the surfaces of two sides of said saddle together with a fiat cross member which fits flush against the outer surface of the tape on the saddle, said saddle sides each having a recess, and an indent on each side of said. clip and separably fitted in said recesses.

4. The combination of a Venetian blind tilt bar, tape and means to attach the tape to the tilt bar, said means comprising a tape saddle secured to said tilt bar and having sides with planar flat surfaces, a generally U-shaped spring clip attached to said saddle and having sides which grip flush against the surfaces of two sides of said saddle together with a flat cross member which fits flush against the outer surfaces of the tape on the saddle, said saddle sides each having a recess, an indent on each side of said grip and separably fitted in said recesses, and a finger grip on one side of said spring clip to lift the indent thereon from its recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,839 Nelson May 10, 1949 2,497,803 Smalley Feb. 14, 1950 2,529,229 Sherwood Nov. 7, 1950 2,534,080 Stuber et al Dec. 12, 1950 2,544,184 Rosenbaum Mar. 6, 1951 2,570,807 Herman Oct. 9, 1951 2,616,496 Junkunc Nov. 4, 1952 2,620,867 Rosenbaum Dec. 9, 1952 2,667,220 Rutledge Jan. 26, 1954 2,767,786 James Oct. 23, 1956 

